Top 40 runs in the 70s and 80s

[dukelightning]

Today's date marks the anniversary of one of the best runs of one artist being in the top 40 during the 70s and 80s. Donna Summer debuts in the top 40 the week ending 9/30/78 and that show is on SXM this weekend. It may be the best run during the 70s and 80s. Here are the top 10 top 40 runs of the 2 decades in chronological order.


Donna Summer started her run of 80 out of 81 weeks in the top 40 this week in 1978 with "MacArthur Park". She had 8 hits....all of which made the top 5 and 4 of those hit #1.
Michael Jackson started a streak of 79 straight weeks in the top 40 in 1982 with "The Girl is Mine". He had 9 hits including Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me"...all of which made the top 10 with 7 of those reaching the top 5 and 3 of those hit #1.
Lionel Richie started a streak of 69 straight weeks in the top 40 in 1983 with "All Night Long". He had only 5 hits with all 5 hitting the top 10, 3 of those hit the top 5 and 2 hit #1.
Madonna started a run of 59 out of 61 weeks in the top 40 in 1984 with "Lucky Star". She had 6 hits..all of which made the top 5 with 2 of those hitting #1.
Bryan Adams started a run of 62 out of 63 weeks in the top 40 with "Run to You". He 6 hits with 3 of those hitting top 10, 2 hitting the top 5 and only one #1 song.
Phil Collins started a run of 60 straight weeks in the top 40 in 1984 with "Easy Lover". He only 5 hits with all 5 reaching the top 5 and 3 hitting #1.
Janet Jackson started a run of 74 out of 75 weeks in the top 40 in 1986 with "What Have you Done for Me Lately". She had 7 hits with 6 of those reaching the top 5 and top 10 and only one of those hitting #1.
Madonna started another almost identical run to her first one in 1986 with "Live to Tell". This one was 60 out of 61 weeks in the top 40 but featured only 5 hits with all 5 hitting the top 5 and 3 of those hitting #1.
Genesis started a streak of 59 straight weeks in the top 40 in 1986 with "Invisible Touch". They did it with only 5 hits...all of which made the top 5 with only one hitting #1.
Michael started another run of 59 out of 60 weeks in the top 40 in 1987 with "I Just Can't Stop Loving You". He had 6 hits with 5 of those hitting not only the top 5 and top 10 but also #1.
George Michael started a run of 59 out of 60 weeks in the top 40 in 1987 with "Faith". He had only 5 hits (MJ's exact same run above had 6 hits) with all 5 hitting the top 5 and top 10 and 4 of those hitting #1.

[matt]

dukedeb--do you remember what the Bee Gees run was from 1977 to '79? I think that was the one that started with "How Deep is Your Love" and ended with "Love You Inside Out"...of course that was largely fueled by the Saturday Night Fever craze.

[dukelightning]

wahoo, the Bee Gees had 6 straight #1s but had several months in between "Night Fever" and "Too Much Heaven". Barry Gibb did almost have an even longer run than Donna Summer however with all the other songs that he wrote for other artists. Kind of a different animal there though.

Andy Gibb however almost made this list. He was in the top 40 for 58 out of 60 weeks during that time.